Nutritional Intervention for Age-Related Muscular Function and Strength Losses

Sperr, Shaun

Nutritional Intervention for Age-Related Muscular Function and Strength Losses

Date

2016-04-01

Authors

Sperr, Shaun

Organizational Units

Organizational Unit

Kinesiology

The Department of Kinesiology seeks to provide an ample knowledge of physical activity and active living to students both within and outside of the program; by providing knowledge of the role of movement and physical activity throughout the lifespan, it seeks to improve the lives of all members of the community. Its options for students enrolled in the department include: Athletic Training; Community and Public Health; Exercise Sciences; Pre-Health Professions; and Physical Education Teacher Licensure. The Department of Physical Education was founded in 1974 from the merger of the Department of Physical Education for Men and the Department of Physical Education for Women. In 1981 its name changed to the Department of Physical Education and Leisure Studies. In 1993 its name changed to the Department of Health and Human Performance. In 2007 its name changed to the Department of Kinesiology. Dates of Existence: 1974-present. Historical Names: Department of Physical Education (1974-1981), Department of Physical Education and Leisure Studies (1981-1993), Department of Health and Human Performance (1993-2007). Related Units: College of Human Sciences (parent college), College of Education (parent college, 1974 - 2005), Department of Physical Education for Women (predecessor) Department of Physical Education for Men

Series

Honors Projects and Posters

University Honors Program

The Honors project is potentially the most valuable component of an Honors education. Typically Honors students choose to do their projects in their area of study, but some will pick a topic of interest unrelated to their major.

The Honors Program requires that the project be presented at a poster presentation event. Poster presentations are held each semester. Most students present during their senior year, but may do so earlier if their honors project has been completed.

This site presents project descriptions and selected posters for Honors projects completed since the Fall 2015 semester.

Department

Kinesiology

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this research was to study differences between men and women in vitamin D3 levels and between vitamin D3 levels and muscle strength. I hypothesized that there would be no significant difference between vitamin D3 and gender. I also hypothesized that people with more vitamin D3 levels would have greater muscle strength compared to people with low vitamin D levels (Rathmacher, 2015). This is part of a larger NIH study. Methods: Blood serum was drawn from 54 men and 40 women to measure Vitamin D3 levels. After obtaining the results I separated the participants into the top 50th percentile and the lower 50th percentile based on vitamin D3 levels. Muscle strength was measured using a Biodex where the participant sat on the machine and flexed their right leg to 180 degrees with as much force as possible while the machine provided resistance. Results: A T-test revealed no differences between men and women in vitamin D3 levels. In addition there was no difference between the upper 50th percentile and the lower 50th percentile of vitamin D3 levels on muscular strength (p>.05).